The organisers of the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix were on Tuesday fined $5-million over their controversial decision to allow the leader of an unrecognised country to present the trophy at the end of this year’s race.
A row erupted after last month’s Formula One event in Istanbul when Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat made the trophy presentation.
The internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government — which has no diplomatic relations with Turkey — immediately protested the appearance of Talat, president of the breakaway Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognised only by Ankara.
FIA, motoring sport’s world governing body, ruled on Tuesday that the organisers had broken Formula One rules for politicising the event.
”The World Motor Sport Council has found against the National Sporting Authority of Turkey and the Organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix on all counts,” the FIA announced in a statement.
”The organisations have been fined a combined total of $5-million.”
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkey invaded its northern third in response to a Greek Cypriot coup to unite the island with Greece.
Turkish Cypriots proclaimed the TRNC in 1983 and the Greek Cypriot government has been extremely sensitive since to any move that may suggest an upgrading of the breakaway state.
The Cyprus Automobile Association said it had been taken aback that the organisers had not been hit by more than a fine.
”I’m surprised,” association general manager Takis Kyriakides told state radio.
”It’s a large amount but I would have expected much more than just a fine.
”We kept a low profile; we initially sent our protest letter explaining that he [Talat] was not president of a state and we let the matter takes its course before the FIA,” said Kyriakides. — AFP
